Primer before lining paper?

[Jesse4891]

Hi I’m new to this so please excuse any daft questions but we’ve just bought a house and have just stripped the wallpaper off.

In places the drywall is now left with ‘fluffy’ tattered areas and there is one patch which is also a little damp.

There is several small holes that need patching up as well where screws and nails have been removed.

We don’t plan on wallpapering but would ideally like a smooth finish to then paint on. I was hoping lining paper would do this, but am I correct in thinking that firstly I’d need to fill and sand the holes, then prime the walls with a primer, followed by lining paper?

If that’s the case could anyone recommend a primer suitable for a small damp patch and a general primer that’d be suitable?

Many thanks

 

[footprints]

Fill and repair as you say but a good coat of wallpaper paste (size) should be all you need to prime the surface for papering.

 

[opps]

Dilute wallpaper paste (generally referred to as sizing) should suffice as a primer. It's purpose is to reduce the porosity (read: suction) of the substrate.

Don't pay a premium for premixed pastes when using lining paper, a box of Solvite powder will be much cheaper. To date I have never seen them sold in proper decorators without a third bag in the box for free (ie 50% free).

The damp patch- you need to address why the wall is damp.